Fabric-holding clamp for embroidery machines

ABSTRACT

A fabric-holding means particularly adapted for embroidery machines, such as those which are used for applying initials, monograms or other designs to neckties or fabric pieces, the device comprising a pair of plates, which may be triangular is shape, with one of said plates hingedly attached to the other plate and between which plates the fabric piece is inserted and is clampingly held with a portion of the fabric piece in which the embroidering operation is to be performed, exposed in registered openings in the plates and below an embroidery needle. The plates are provided with compressible, non-slip areas which act to hold the fabric taut across the openings, and means is provided for pressing one of the plates down upon the other when the fabric piece is clamped between the plates. Guide means for directing the fabric pieces into the proper position are also provided.

United States Patent Weidlin Von Boden et al.

[54] FABRIC-HOLDING CLAMP FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES [72] inventors: Alberto Weidlln Von Boden, Washington,

DC; Ernest Enzian, Highland, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Countess Mara, Inc., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 22,818

[52] U.S.Cl ..112/103 [51] Int. Cl ..D05c 9/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..112/103,l02,121.22,121.15, 112/ 121. 12

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,041 7/1954 Tice ..112/103 X 1,260,923 3/1918 Loeb ..112/103 3,216,383 11/1965 Bono ..112/121.12X

3,315,625 4/1967 Bennison ..l 12/102 X 1,197,400 9/1916 Richter ..112/103 3,405,670 10/1968 Scholl et al. ..112/102 X [451 May 23, 1972 2,091,727 8/1937 Bohmann et a1 ..l 12/102 3,034,458 5/1962 Bennison ..112/121.12

Primary Examifier-Alfied R. Guest Attorney-Munson & Fiddler [57] ABSTRACT A fabric-holding means particularly adapted for embroidery machines, such as those which are used for applying initials, monograms or other designs to neckties or fabric pieces, the device comprising a pair of plates, which may be triangular is shape, with one of said plates hingedly attached to the other plate and between which plates the fabric piece is inserted and is clampingly held with a portion of the fabric piece in which the embroiden'ng operation is to be performed, exposed in registered openings in the plates and below an embroidery needle. The plates are provided with compressible, non-slip areas which act to hold the fabric taut across the openings, and means is provided for pressing one of the plates down upon the other when the fabric piece is clamped between the plates. Guide means for directing the fabric pieces into the proper position are also provided.

3 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIED rm 2 3 i972 SHEET 1 OF 2 ATTORNEY.

INVEN 122i FIG. I.

PATENTEDMAY 23 I972 sum 2 UP 2 F IG. 4.

. vmniiQN ATTORNEY".

FABRIC-HOLDING CLAMP FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

positionedbelow the embroidery machine. An arrangement of 1 this kind requires the employment of a special table that is formed with circular recesses to receive the hoops that are mounted in the hooping frame.

When fine and fragile fabrics, such as those made of silk, are placed in hoops such as those above described, the fabric is likelyto become distorted or the threads of the fabric become mashed or separated. The fabric is also apt-to become off-centered so that the embroidery needle will then produce an unsightly or distorted design. The conventional hoop also tends to wrinkle the fabric which will also cause distortion of the embroidery. In order to counteract the damage and distortions that may occur, a cotton underlay is sometimes used behind the fabric. 7

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved fabric-clamping device by which a fabric piece, such as a necktie for example, is clamped between two hingedly connected plates and is firmly but resiliently held between nonslip compressible pads secured to the plates. This arrangement is such that the fabric pieces to be embroidered can be rapidly inserted into place in the clamp and removed therefrom and the fabric pieces so firmly held that while they are prevented from slippage, they will not have their threads distorted or damaged during the embroidering operation.-The device also permits the fabric pieces to also be located in proper position with a minimum of effort and with the assurance that the portion of the necktie or other fabric piece to be embroidered will be properly registered with the circular openings through which the embroidery needle functions. These and other objects to be hereinafter set forth will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-unit embroidery apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one of the fabric-clamping units;

FIG. 3 shows the upper plate of one of the units in a raised position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the unit with the upper plate raised;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5- 5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6- 6 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive, there is shown therein one of the fabric-clamping units generally indicated at A and which is used in multiple as shown in FIG. 1. Each unit primarily consists of two main parts namely, a fixed bottom or base plate 1 and a hinged top or upper plate 2. In the form shown, both of the plates 1 and 2 are triangular in shape particularly to accommodate neckties to be embroidered, although it will be apparent that the plates may be differently shaped.

Along two of its sides, the base plate 1 is reinforced by an attached angle bar 3 having an upstanding flange 3a. Arms 4 and 5 are attached to the angle bar and these anns project laterally from the base plate 1. The arm shown at 4 is attached by a bolt 6 to a bracket 7 fastened to and extending from a rail 8 mounted on the looping frame, a part of which is shown at 9 and which is used in the multi-unit apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

The arm 5, extending laterally from the angle bar 3, is fastened by a bolt 11 to a bracket similar to the bracket 7. Each of the brackets 7 and 10 is provided with a pair of slots 12 and 13 which are arranged at right angles to one another.

The bolt 6 engages in the slot 12, while the bolt 11 at the opposite side of the plate 1, engages in the slot 13. By means of this arrangement any one of the units consisting of the plate 1 carrying the hinged upper plate 2, can be readily removed from the looping frame and replaced therein with a minimum of effort.

The base plate 1 is formed with a central aperture or circular hole 18a, over which a portion of the fabric piece, which might be a portion of a necktie, is placed for the embroidering operation.

The upper plate 2 is as shown, of triangular form and of a size to enable it to fit within the angle defined by the angle bar 3, and at its apex it is hingedly attached to the base plate 1 by means of a hinge 17 having one of its leaves attached by screw or pin 18 to the angle bar 3 that is secured to the base plate 1. Thus, the upper plate. 2 can, by means of this hinge, be raised as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or lowered to then rest upon or overlie the base plate as shown in FIG. 2. The base plate 1 is formed with a central aperture or circular hole 18a. Secured on the top face of the base plate 1 and facing upwardly therefrom are strips 19 of a compressible, resilient and nonslip material such as sponge rubber or a material of similar characteristics.

The upper plate 2 is provided with a central circular hole 14 around which a ring 15 of the non-slip and compressible material is secured. The hole 14 is preferably of the same size as the hole 180. Additional strips of the non-slip material are arranged around the opening 14 as is clearly shown in FIG. 3, such additional strips being shown at 16. The strips shown at 15 and 16 may be of greater thickness than those shown at 19 on the base plate.

The holes and 14 in the respective plates 1 and 2 are so located that they register or are in alignment when the upper plate 2 is in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 2, so that the fabric piece, when placed between the two plates 1 and 2 will be exposed through the two holes 14 and 18a.

In operation, the fabric piece to be embroidered, and which may for example, be the tapered end of a necktie, and which is indicated in dotted lines at 20 in FIG. 4, is placed on the top of the base plate 1 and over the strips 19. The area of the fabric piece that is to be embroidered is that which is located above the hole 18a in the base plate. The fabric piece is thus fitted into position over the base plate 1 while the upper plate 2 is in a raised position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The upstanding flange 3a on the angle bar 3 acts as a positioning means or guide to properly locate the fabric piece preparatory to the embroidering operation. Thus, if the fabric piece is a necktie the tapered end thereof will fit in the angle that is defined by the flange 3a.

When the fabric piece or necktie end is placed in position over the base plate 1 as above described, the top plate 2 is then swung down to thereby clamp the fabric piece or necktie end between it and the bottom plate. The fabric piece so positioned will be clampingly and non-shiftably held between the strips 15, 16 and 19 of non-slip material located respectively on the two clamping plates 2 and l, and the fabric piece will be held stretched smoothly across the aligned openings 14 and 18a. An embroidering machine 21 mounted on the table 9 and with its needle operative through the holes 14 and 18a can now perform the required embroidery work.

To hold down the upper clamping plate 2 in its required clamping position, a clamping lever 22 is provided. The same is pivoted at 23 at one of its ends in a bracket 24 mounted on the base plate 1. At the opposite end of the base plate 1 is provided a bracket 25 formed with a lip 26 under which the end portion of the lever 22 can be extended to hold the lever down in its position of exerting pressure on the upper plate 2 to thereby cause the fabric piece to be firmly gripped and held between the plates during the embroidering operation.

The unit shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive may be used singly or in conjunction with one embroidering machine but for factory use it may well be used in a multi-unit arrangement such as is shown in FIG. 1. Therein six of the embroidery machines 21 are arranged in spaced relation over the table in which holds a looping frame. Below the needle 25 of each of the machines 21 is located one of the units A. This emables a very substantial number of neckties or other fabric pieces to be embroidered rapidly and effectively. The manner in which the fabric pieces are held during the embroidering operation is such that the area in which the embroidery is to be produced is smoothly and evenly held in a taut manner and so remains during the embroidering operation The gripping of the fabric between the pads on the plates 1 and 2 enables the fabric to be held against slippage and without causing excessive compression, marking or damage to the body of the fabric piece or to the threads thereof. The arrangement of the clamping plates is such that the fitting of the required part of a necktie or other fabric piece in place between the plates is very quickly performed and a marked production increase follows from the use of an apparatus constructed as herein described.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamping means for holding a fabric piece while it is being embroidered comprising, a base plate having a central hole, an upper plate pivotally attached to the base plate and adapted when in a lowered position to clampingly hold the fabric between it and the base plate, non-slip areas provided on the opposed faces of the base plate and the upper plate and between which facings the fabric piece is gripped when the plates are brought together, the upper plate having a central opening registering with the hole in the base plate when the plates are in overlying position, and clamping means operating on top of the upper plate to clampingly hold the same down upon the base plate, such clamping means being releaseable to permit the upper plate to be swingably raised to bring it to a substantially vertical position with respect to the base plate.

2. A clamping means for use in connection with an embroidery machine comprising, a table, a triangular base plate mounted on the table, two edges of said base plate being defined by upstanding flanges, said flanges constituting positioning means for the angular edges of a fabric piece to be etnbroidered, a pivoted triangular gripping plate pivotally at tached at the apex of the base plate and swingable on its pivot to or from the base plate and when swung away from the base plate assuming a substantially vertical position relatively to said base plate, the plates being provided with registering openings to permit the operation of the needle of the em broidering machine, areas of non-slip material arranged around the opening in the base plate on the upper face of said base plate, areas of similar material borne by the under face of the gripping plate so that a fabric piece placed between the said plates will be engaged by the pieces of non-slip material, an arm pivotally mounted on the base plate and being swingable to cause it to overlie the top of the gripping plate to clampingly hold said plate down on the base plate, and fastening means for holding said arm in its clamping position.

3. Clamping means for holding a fabric piece to be embroidered comprising, an underlying plate having an opening to be located below a needle of an embroidery machine and on top of which opening the fabric piece to be embroidered is positioned with an area of the piece to be embroidered located above said opening, an overlying plate pivoted to said underlying plate and movable to overlie the underlying plate and clamp the fabric between the two plates, non-slip areas provided on opposed faces of said plates for engaging the fabric piece when held between the plates, said plates being triangular, the underlying plate being provided with a fixed upstanding flange defining the position of two of the side edges of the overlying plate, said overlying plate fitting within said flange, clamping means for clamping the plates together, said means including a lever pivoted at one end of the underlying plate, a clip mounted adjacent the opposite end of said underlying plate, the lever being swingable on its pivot to cause it to ex tend across the overlying plate and to engage the clip.

* III I 

1. A clamping means for holding a fabric piece while it is being embroidered comprising, a base plate having a central hole, an upper plate pivotally attached to the base plate and adapted when in a lowered position to clampingly hold the fabric between it and the base plate, non-slip areas provided on the opposed faces of the base plate and the upper plate and between which facings the fabric piece is gripped when the plates are brought together, the upper plate having a central opening registering with the hole in the base plate when the plates are in overlying position, and clamping means operating on top of the upper plate to clampingly hold the same down upon the base plate, such clamping means being releaseable to permit the upper plate to be swingably raised to bring it to a substantially vertical position with respect to the base plate.
 2. A clamping means for use in connectioN with an embroidery machine comprising, a table, a triangular base plate mounted on the table, two edges of said base plate being defined by upstanding flanges, said flanges constituting positioning means for the angular edges of a fabric piece to be embroidered, a pivoted triangular gripping plate pivotally attached at the apex of the base plate and swingable on its pivot to or from the base plate and when swung away from the base plate assuming a substantially vertical position relatively to said base plate, the plates being provided with registering openings to permit the operation of the needle of the embroidering machine, areas of non-slip material arranged around the opening in the base plate on the upper face of said base plate, areas of similar material borne by the under face of the gripping plate so that a fabric piece placed between the said plates will be engaged by the pieces of non-slip material, an arm pivotally mounted on the base plate and being swingable to cause it to overlie the top of the gripping plate to clampingly hold said plate down on the base plate, and fastening means for holding said arm in its clamping position.
 3. Clamping means for holding a fabric piece to be embroidered comprising, an underlying plate having an opening to be located below a needle of an embroidery machine and on top of which opening the fabric piece to be embroidered is positioned with an area of the piece to be embroidered located above said opening, an overlying plate pivoted to said underlying plate and movable to overlie the underlying plate and clamp the fabric between the two plates, non-slip areas provided on opposed faces of said plates for engaging the fabric piece when held between the plates, said plates being triangular, the underlying plate being provided with a fixed upstanding flange defining the position of two of the side edges of the overlying plate, said overlying plate fitting within said flange, clamping means for clamping the plates together, said means including a lever pivoted at one end of the underlying plate, a clip mounted adjacent the opposite end of said underlying plate, the lever being swingable on its pivot to cause it to extend across the overlying plate and to engage the clip. 